Scripps Technical Forum

Mobile and Miniature Mass Spectrometers for Marine and
Space ApplicationsTim ShortSRI International

In situ mass spectrometry in extreme environments,
such as in the deep ocean or outer space, poses significant
challenges. Many of these challenges are common, including the
requirements for high reliability, autonomous or remote operation,
ruggedness to deal with rapidly changing environmental conditions,
and restrictions on size, weight, and power. Other engineering
concerns are specific to the particular environment, such as extreme
pressure differentials between ambient hydrostatic pressure and mass
spectrometer vacuum at depth in the ocean, and extreme temperature
ranges in deep space.

We have been developing underwater mass spectrometers and have
deployed these instruments on a variety of underwater platforms,
such as tow sleds, vertical profiling frames, remotely operated
vehicles (ROVs), and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). One of
the primary targets in recent years has been in situ
characterization of underwater natural hydrocarbon seeps and leaks.

More recently, we have begun to design and test a prototype
micro-machined ion trap array mass spectrometer aimed at detecting
and identifying low-molecular-weight biomarkers, ultimately to be
adapted for space missions of astrobiological relevance. We plan to
demonstrate that the prototype instrument can detect and
characterize water and compounds of prebiotic relevance, such as
those on the surface of comets.

About

The Scripps Technical Forum (STF) is a grassroots effort to make
technical expertise and resources more widely available within the
UCSD/Scripps community; to enhance communications between technical
staff and departments; explore extended opportunities for
interdepartmental collaboration, technology transfer, and industry
interactions; to explore innovative solutions to emerging
challenges; to monitor and disseminate trends and new technologies;
and, aid in personnel retention and enhance job satisfaction,
including continuing education, and opportunities for job growth.

The group is open to anyone within SIO and
UCSD interested in applied technology. We host a monthly midday
meeting with free pizza and an interesting program of presentations
given by members of the community and industry. Our monthly
newsletter highlights events, people, places, and items.

Members of the Technical Forum are encouraged to use the mailing
list techicalfoo@siomail.ucsd.edu
to get answers from the community on questions about
instrumentation, technical setups, electronics, mechanicals,
moorings, computers, etc.